These days, the term smoking is generally associated with smoking a cigarette or a cigar. However, the idea of smoking substances has been known to exist as far as 5000 BC. It existed mainly in African and Indian cultures as rituals in various ceremonies. Over the years it has evolved from in the first place natural plant stems and leaves to pipes to now handy and simple cigarettes.

A temporary feeling of goodness felt is the main reason why a lot of people smoke. The substance behind this may change but tobacco is the most favorite substance. Tobacco comes from the leaves of the plants belonging to the species Nicotiana. Smokers find tobacco addictive and relish it because of a chemical called nicotine. Other substances include marijuana, steam; usually flavored with tobacco or herbal fruits.

An increasing amount of youth start smoking at ages as young as 18 and continue smoking into their adulthood. This growth in recent years can be related to the attractive advertisements of mainly cigarettes. Developing countries contribute the most smoking teenagers because of the lack of awareness of the health risks linked with smoking.

Over years of constant smoking, the chemicals in the tobacco smoke deposit on the lungs, eventually growing into a tumour, leading to lung cancer. Smoking is the main cause for majority of lung cancer deaths. The fast growth in the number of deaths due to smoking related lung cancer has to lead to many campaigns to stop smoking. Cigarette packets too carry health warnings to let people know the effects of smoking.

Many countries have banned smokingin public areas to get people to stop smoking. In airports, special smoking rooms are allocated for smoking persons. These efforts are to not only stop smoking people of the habit, but to reduce passive smokers. Passive smokers are greatly affected too as they do not have the advantage of the filter found in almost all cigarettes. This has lead to many protests by passive smokers to stop smoking, not only in public areas, but everywhere in the country.

Some may say that the industry to stop smoking is growing as fast as the tobacco industry. Things like nicotine patches, and various types of treatments are being used to help people quit the habit and stop smokeing. Usually it takes a heavy smoker a few years to stop smoking completely, but with the help of these instruments the period taken to stop smoking can be much quicker.

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